An examination of preschool services and programs for children with disabilities in North Carolina school districts

The purpose of this study was to examine the provision of physical, occupational and speech therapy services and restrictiveness of settings for programs for children, 3-5 years old, with disabilities by North Carolina school districts. Public and federal school systems in North Carolina were participants in the study. A survey research design was utilized to collect information from school districts. In addition to examining implementation of related service and least restrictive environment requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), possible effects of district size was also explored relative to the provision of preschool services. Also examined was whether differences existed between the public and Department of Defense federal school systems. Data from surveys received from North Carolina Exceptional Children Program Administrators were used to illustrate that not all school districts provided all necessary therapy services to preschoolers with disabilities. Occupational therapy was the most reported therapy not provided to children identified as requiring the service. The primary reason for not providing therapy was a shortage of appropriate personnel.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Administration and Supervision of Special Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Administration and Supervision of Special Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Cacace, Stacey Ann

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Jones, Philip R.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Worner, Wayne M.
• Fortune, Jimmie C.
• Brooks, Norman
• Alexander, M. David

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06062008-171303

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/38462